Dark Horse Presents #1 Commemorative Edition (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Having been formed only a couple of months prior, the editors at Dark Horse Comics made the brilliant decision to highlight all of their properties in a bi-monthly anthology. Due to the popularity of the creations, Dark Horse Presents soon became a monthly series in less than a year and ran for 157 issues before being discontinued in September, 2000.

There are 4 different stories and properties introduced to readers in the premiere issue. Although the cover features Chris Warner's futuristic Black Cross about an United States of America divided by a Civil War between various factions, the star of this issue is Paul Chadwick's massive hero with an even more gigantic heart, Concrete.

Kidnapped by aliens, Ron Lithgow's brain is transferred into an huge artificial body made of a substance similar to concrete. Issue #1 of Dark Horse Presents is the first appearance of Concrete. In this story, Concrete has already been established in his new form as well as the newest darling of the Hollywood media. Concrete's origin won't even be explored for another year! Here, fresh off an appearance on the Johnny Carson show, Concrete is fooled by a soccer mom to provide entertainment for her little boy's 8th birthday party.

Readers then meet the smarmy Mr. Garrett in a story called 'Mindwalk'. Garrett has the ability to enter people's dreams and in his introductory story, forced to probe the secrets of a Jewish doctor who knows more than his fair share of dangerous experiments on germ warfare conducted by the Nazis. This story was written by Randy Strandley. Art by Randy Emberlin

Paul Chadwick returns to finish the issue with a story called 'Brighter' about a young woman who has the ability to make her dreams a reality. With a little bit of artistic flare, the woman hopes to make a go in Hollywood. If this feels a little bit like Marvel's Dazzler, you might not be far off. Chadwick wrote several late issues of the mutant's first series run.

In 1992, Dark Horse produced a pair of commemorative editions of the debut of Dark Horse Presents. One with a green border. Another with silver. This should read as a 5th anniversary issue except that this special edition 2nd printing debuted in stores in 1992. This release could also be considered a facsimile edition as all of the original ads and previews for forthcoming (low number) issues of DHP are still contained inside. The only change is found on the back page column titled 'Winner's Circle.' In 1986, editors used it as a vehicle to introduce readers to the talent behind the stories. For the re-release, readers are instead given an update on what has happened to the writers and artists since their works debuted in issue #1.

Completing this review completes Task #16 (Comic/Graphic Novel Published by Dark Horse) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Black Sinister

What if your city’s greatest threat was the superhero sworn to protect it?

The Hero Nobody Deserves

   In the case of Coal City, the citizens are victimized daily by a costumed vigilante known as Black Sinister. Everyone knows that Sinister is actually Coal City’s wealthiest man, Emerson Black. But neither the government nor the court system can stop Black because the millionaire owns all of the city’s resources!

    The story by Kaare Andrews (Renato Jones: the One%) was originally serialized in various issues of Dark Horse Presents. A parody of superheroes and an allegory of the plight of the 99%, the Black Sinister was insane fun. When Black tries to rescue a child from a kidnapper and accidentally kills the boy, the hero mourns. But it’s not for the extinguished life of the child hostage. No, the Black Sinister weeps for the loss of a unit of cheap child labor! Kaare Andrews’ beautifully crafted a character that has several screws loose.

    When it comes to the art, somebody went to the Paul Pope School of Cartooning. The work of Deadworld’s Troy Nixey looks so much like that of Pope’s Batman: Year 100. I had to check several times to make sure it really wasn’t Pope who penciled this book. But I just adored every broken limb, severed artery, and bloated bureaucrat dressed in Napoleonic garb.

Imagine if Batman was as completely bonkers as the Tick, emotionally fragile as Iron Man and written by Howard Chaykin AND Frank Miller. That is the Black Sinister in a nutshell. And I loved it! I only hope that the Black Sinister will return to terrorize the citizens of Coal City once more sometime soon!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Review was originally published June 27, 2017 on outrightgeekery.com